Steam-discharging pressing iron



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1941. F. A. MILLER STEAM-DISCHARGING PRESSING IRON Filed Aug. 17, 1959 sept. 2, 1941. A, .LLER 2,254,851

STEAM-DISCHARGING PRES S ING IRON Filed Aug. 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .fh v 36' Z4L Z4 4;/ 442/4 f? Flcm` 8) 8 57 Q 5 xNvENToR FRED A. MILLER BY WWI-.-

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1941 STAM-DISCHARGING PRESSING IRON Fred A. Miller, St. Johns, Mo., asslgnor to Roland M. Klemme, St. Lous,`Mo.

Application August 17, 1939, Serial No. 290,541

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to pressing irons and more specifically to pressing irons of the steaming type which include water reservoirs within the bodies of the pressing irons and are provided with heat-producing means which convert water in the reservoirs into steam for discharge from the irons at, or adjacent to, the bases thereof, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a pressing iron of the type mentioned which, because of its improved and unique construction and arrangement, is capable of economical production and eicient operation Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1a heat conductor bar hereinafter described being omitted.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 1 1 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved pressing iron generally.` The iron A includes a baseportion which is in the form of a plate I, said base plate being of conventional shape and being of substantial thickness as shown in Figs.

1, 4, 5, and 6. The plate I has formed therein,

locationof the steam-discharging oriceZ (Fig.

2). The plate I is provided also with a cavity 5 formed in its upper face which receives a suit- Vable electrical heating unit 6 that serves a purpose to be hereinafter set forth, said cavity than the remainder of the cavity as indicated at 5' in Fig. 1.

The body 1 ofthe improved iron is in the form of an integral, one piece structure, having a bottom wall 8 from which an upstanding, marginal Wall 8 extends. The front portion of the body 1 of the iron is inclined upwardly and rearwardlyfrom the lower edge of said front portion to a substantial degree as shown in Fig. 1,

while vthe opposed side portions of said body are inclined upwardly and inwardly to a lesser degree as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and the rear portions thereof are substantially vertical. The lower face of the body rests on the top face of the plate I and said body 1 is positioned with respect to said plate I by means of a plurality of dowels 1' which are received in recesses formed in the body and base plate, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. Within the body 1 of the iron a reservoir 9 is formed which is adapted to receive water, saidV lreservoir being defined by the bottom wall of the body and the upstanding marginal wall thereof.

The forward portion of the body 1 of the iron is solid, as indicated at I0 in Fig.'3, and formed I3 which is provided with screwthreaded portions.

at its opposite ends. The lower screwthreaded portion of the tubular element I3 is screwed into the screwthreaded portion of the steam-discharge orice 2 as shown in Fig. 1, while the upper screwthreaded portion of said tubular element receives a nut I4 which is screwed against a washer I 5 which is interposed between said nut and the top face of the ange I2 and is preierably formed of asbestos or other suitable heatresisting material. The tubular element I3 performs a dual function in that it serves as a bolt for securing. the body 1 of the iron to the base plate I thereof, and, also, said tubular element acts, in a manner to be hereinafter explained, to

conduct steam to the discharge orilce 2 in the base plate I of the iron. In addition to the means for attaching the body 1 of the iron to the bas'e plate I thereof provided by the tubular element I3 a at the rear portion of the plate I being deeper pair of bolts I6 are provided at the rear portion of the iron for securing said body and base plate together as shown in Fig. Y.

erally to the shape in plan of the base plate of the iron, and arranged in contact with the heatproducing unit 6 is a metal plate I1 which is shaped in accordance with the heat-producing unit. This metal plate has riveted, orotherwise secured thereto, an elongated conductor bar |B which is preferably formed of copper, or other good heat-conducting material. The conductor bar I8 is disposed in a recess I9 formed in the bottom wall 8 of the body 1 of the iron, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. The conductor bar i9, ad jacent to its forward end, is provided with an opening I8' formed therethrough through which the tubular element I3 extends, said opening i3 being of substantially the same diameter as the tubular element so that close contact will be produced between the wall of the opening and the outer face of the tubularelement.

At the rear end'of the heat producing unit l an electrical conductingA strip 23 is mechanically and electrically connected thereto, this conductor strip being mechanically and electrically connected also to the lower ends oi' a pair oi' bolts 2| (only one thereof being shown inV Fig. 1) which extend through a suitable insulator block 22. At their upper ends the bolts 2| have mechanically and electrically connected thereto in an obvious manner a conductor 23 which conducts electrical energy from a source of supply to the heat-producing unit l by way of the bolts 2| and the conductor strip 20.

At its top the body 1 of the iron is closed by, a

cover plate 24 which corresponds in plan to the x shape of the top of the body. The cover plate is secured to the top of the body 1 of the iron by means of screws or other suitable fastening elements 25, and to provide a` fluid-tight joint between the cover plate and the top edge of the body of the iron a. gasket 26 formed of asbestos, or other heat-resisting material, is interposed therebetween. 'I'he cover plate 24 has formed thereon an upstanding steam dome 21 which preferably is shaped as shown 'in Fig. 1, said steam dome having formed therein `a. dividing wall 28 which provides within the steam dome an independent steam passageway29 vwhich communicates at its upper end with the interior of the steam dome and at its lower end with the upper end of the opening The cover plate 24 is provided with an emergency pressure outlet 30 which is normally sealed by a' frangible disk 3|, said disk being capable of resisting pressure within the reservoir up to a predetermined point and being adapted to `rupture when that predetermined pressure i s exceeded to release the excessive pressure.

'I'he iron `A is provided with a handle 32 which is made of material characterizedbybeing a nonconductor `of heat, and -for this purpose ithas been found that acomposition made up of Bakelite and asbestos serves very well. The handle 32 is secured to the body ofthe iron through the instrumentality of a bracket 33, which is sesecured by screws, or other suitableastening the same view. The fastening devices V35 serve also to secure to lthe cover plate 24 a shield 36, which preferably, though not necessarily, is formed from sheet metal. This shield includes a top wall which overlies the top plate 24 of the iron, and a downwardly extended iiange portion 36 which embraces the upper portion of the body 1 of the iron as shown in Fig. 1, the top wall of the shield being provided with an opening through which the steam dome 21 and the handle bracket 33 extend. cIn addition to being secured to the top plate 24 of the iron by the fastening elements 35, the shield 36' is secured also to the rear portion of the handle 32 by screws or other suitable fastening devices 431, one of which is shown in Fig.- 1. A

In order to prevent such splashing of the water in the reservoir 9 as would cause water to pass into the steam dome a plurality of spaced baiiles 38 may, if desired, be arranged within the forward portion of the reservoir, as shown in Figs. l and 3. These baiiies may be formed from sections of resilient sheet metal which are introduced in place in the reservoir in a bowed condition, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the tendency o f the baflies to straighten out will cause the opposite sideedges of the baiiies to frictionally grip the walls of the reservoir and thus retain the baiiles in place. The baiiles may be provided with apertures 39 through which steam may pass, and also steam may pass between the edges of the bailles and 4the walls of the reservoirs, as the joints between these parts would not be duid-tight.

Also, a similar baie 40 may be arranged in like manner in the lower portion of thesteam dome 21 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, this baille also being arranged in place in a bowed condition so that it will be retained in place, and being provided with one or more apertures 40' for passage of steam.

'I'he cover plate 24 of the iron is provided with a portion 24' that extends through an opening formed through the shield 36 and is provided with an inlet opening 4| through which water may be introduced into the reservoir 9 (Fig. 6). The inlet opening 4| is normally sealed by a cap 42 which is formed of Bakelite or other suitable heat-resisting material, said cap including as an integral part thereof a flanged sleeve 43 which is externally screwthreaded and is adapted to be screwed into the screwthreaded upper portion of the inlet opening 4|. The sleeve 43 is preferably formed of metal which is characterized by the ability to resistcorrosion and because the upper portion'of the cap 42 is formed of material which is a. nonconductor of heat the danger that a person will receive burns in removing the cap is rendered quite remote.

OperationI In the use of the improved pressing iron diswhich will heat the base plate of the iron and` will heat the walls of the reservoir so as to convert the water therein into steam. 'I'he steam so produced will pass upwardly into the steam dome 21 and'will moyedownwardlyfthrough thesteam passagewaxe :29ftof'theiopening Il.' said 'steam passing downwardly *through the tubular element I3 to the steam-discharge orice 2 in the base plate I of the iron from which the steam is discharged into the steam distributing grooves 3 and 4.

When the improved iron is in operation the plate II is maintained in a very hot condition because of its proximity to the heat-producing unit 6, and lbecause the conductor bar I8 is se- .cured to the plate I1 in contact therewith, said 'conductor bar will also be maintained in a very hot condition. The conductor bar I8 is in very intimate contact with the tubular element I3 because of the close contact of a-portion of the outer face of the tubular element with the wall of the opening I8' formed adjacent to the for- -of the tubular element I3 is spaced from other portions of the structure of the iron because of the relative small diameter of said tubular element with respect to the diameter of the opening ii. Thus the opportunity for the heat of the tubular element to be conducted away from said tubular element, and thereby interfere with the maintenance of the tubular element in a hot condition, is reduced to the minimum.

The cap I2 which seals the water inlet ll is provided, in the portion thereof which is surrounded by the 'sleeve 43, with a longitudinal opening 42i -that is open at the bottom of the cap. Also, the cap has formed therein a transverse opening 42h which communicates at its inner end with the opening l2 and extends through portions 'of the Bakelite part of the cap and the sleeve thereof, with said transverse opening being open at the outer face of said sleeve. By providing the cap 42 with the openings 42B and 42h steam within thereservoir 9 is permitted to bleed from the reservoir when the cap is being unscrewed, whereby a sudden rush ofsteam from the reservoir is avoided when the cap is removed from the inlet di.

i claim:

1. A pressing iron comprising a base having a pressing face, a body portion providing la reservoir adapted to receive a body of water, said body portion being disposed above said base, heating means for heating the base of the iron and for heating said body portion so as to con- 'heating means and another portion arranged in contact with said steam conductor, said element being formed of a material which vis characterized by being a better conductor of heat than the material of whichadjacent parts ofthe pressing iron are formed and the element being out of direct contact with the adjacent portions of the body portion of the pressing iron.

2. A pressing iron comprising a base having a pressing face, a body portion providing a reservoir adapted to receive a body of water, said body portion being supported by said base and being secured thereto, heating means for heating the base of the iron and for heating said body portion so as to convert the water within the reservoir thereof into steam, a steam-discharge orice formed in said base at a point adjacent to the forward end thereof, a steam conductor for conducting steam produced within said reservoir to said steam-discharge orifice, and heat-conducting means for conducting heat from said heating means to said steam conductor so as to maintain same in such heated condition that steam passing therethrough is superheated, said heat-conducting means comprising an element formed of good heat conducting material which has a portion thereof arranged in close proximity to said heating means and which is provided with an opening formed through another portion thereof through which said steam conductor extends with an outer surface. portion of the steam conductor arranged in close con- -tact with the wall of said opening.

3. A pressing iron comprising a base having a pressing face, a body portion providing a vreser- 'voir adapted to receive a body of water, said body portion being disposed above -said base,

heating means for heatingV the base of the iron Vand for heating said body portion so as to convert the water within the reservoir thereofinto steam, a steam-discharge orifice formed in saidv base at a point adjacent to the forward end thereof, a steam conductor for conducting steam produced within said reservoir to said steam- .discharge orifice, heat-conducting means for conducting heat from said heating means to said steam conductor so as to maintain same in such heated condition that steam passing therethrough is superheated, said heat-conducting means comprising an element formed of good heat conducting material which has a portion thereof arranged in close proximity to said heating means and which is provided with an opening formed through another portion thereof through which said steam conductor extends with an outer surface portion of the steam'conductor arranged in close contact with the wall of said opening, and a recess formed in a wall of said body portion in which a portion of said` `heat-conducting element is disposed.

K4. A pressing iron comprising a .base having a l vpressing face, a bodyportion providing a reservoir adapted to receive a Abody of water, said body portion being disposed above said base, heating means for heating the base of the iron and for heating said body portion so as to convert the water within the reservoir thereof into steam, a steam-discharge orifice formed in said base at a point adjacent to the forward end thereof, a steam conductor for conducting steam produced within said reservoir to said steamdischarge orifice, and heat conducting means for conducting heat from said heating means to said steam conductorso as to maintain same in..A

such heated condition that steam passing therethrough is superheated, said heat conductixm means comprising a plate arranged in close proximity to said heating means, and an element secured to said plate and having a portion arranged in contact with said steam conductor, said element being formed of a material which is characterized by being a better conductor of heat than the material of which adjacent parts of the pressing iron are formed and the element being out of direct contact with the adjacent portions of the body portion of the pressing iron.

5. A pressing iron comprising a base having a pressing face, a body portion providing a res-f ervoir adapted to receive a body oi' water, said body portion being disposed above said base, heating means for and for heating said body portion so as to convert the water within the reservoir thereof into steam, a. steam-discharge orifice formed in said base at a point adjacent to the forward end thereof, a steam conductor for conducting steam produced within said reservoir to said steamdischarge orice, and heat-conducting means for conducting heat from said heating means to said steam conductor so as to maintain same in such heated condition that steam passing therethrough is superheated, said steam conductor being disposed in an opening formed in said body portion which is of substantially greater diameter than said steam conductor so that a subheating the base of the iron stantial portion o1' the steam conductor is out ofv direct contact with said body portion in order to minimize the opportunity for the heat oi' the steam conductor to be conducted. therefrom by adjacent portions of the iron. said; opening being spaced from said reservoir of said body portion.

6. A pressing iron comprising a base having a pressing face, a body portion providing a reservoir adapted to receive a body of water, the upper portion oi' said body portion being open, said body portion 4being supported by said base and being secured thereto, heating means for heating the base of the iron and for heating said body portion so as to convert the water within the reservoir thereof into steam. a 'steam-discharge orifice formed in said base at a point adjacent to the forward end thereof, said body portion having a solid wall portion in' which an elongated opening isformed which is in alinement with respect to said steam-discharge orifice, a tubular steam conductor disposed in said opening, said tubular steam conductor being of substantially less diameter than said elongated opening so that its outer face is spaced from the wall of said elongated opening and the lower end portion of said steam conductor being in screwthreaded engagement with said base at said steam *dischargeorifice, an inwardly extended ilange disposed within said elongated opening, a nut mounted on said steam conductor at the upper end thereof for connecting said steam conductor to said flange, a cover plate for closing the upper portion of said body portion, a steam g dome supported by said cover plate through which steam passes from said reservoir to said elongated opening and the steam conductor therein, and heat-conducting means for conducting heat from said heatingl means to said steam conductor so as to maintain same in such heated condition-v that steam passing' therethrough is superheated.

FRED A. MILLER. 

